The jet carrying 200 passengers descended until it was almost landing then lifted off again

She said: “It was a strange feeling when the A330 came right at us, as we did not know before that it would do a honorary lap.”

The Local reports the pilot is now under investigation by the Federal Aviation Authority.

Renate Brunder-Korbmacher, who lives near the airport, said: “People near the airport were really terrified.

“Those who have lived for decades near the airport and know the start and landing routes got a huge scare. An aeroplane that flies extremely low over the residential area, outside the normal route, usually means an emergency is happening.”

Another resident even said that “they should actually take away the license of such pilots”.

The resident said: “The man scared the hell out of hundreds of children in the Dusseldorf-Unterrath neighbourhood.”

An Air Berlin manager who wished to remain anonymous told German media that the pilots were “complete idiots” for performing the fly-by.